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FOR the justice system to appear credible, it must punish all those who are found guilty, including the high and mighty. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, there seems to be one law for the common man, and another for those who have the ‘means’. On Tuesday, an antiterrorism court in Karachi granted bail to suspended police officer Rao Anwar in the murder case of Naqeebullah Mehsud. The aspiring young model — along with three others, all dubbed Taliban militants — was gunned down in a bogus encounter in the outskirts of Karachi in January, which Rao Anwar is accused of masterminding. While it is true that all suspects are innocent until proven guilty, it appears that the police officer, believed to be patronised by powerful quarters, is getting preferential treatment. He has been granted bail though he is accused of murder, whereas often those accused of lesser crimes, but without connections, are denied bail. The suspended SSP’s house in Malir cantonment has been declared a ‘sub-jail’. Whenever appearing in court, Mr Anwar is brought without handcuffs, while all the other accused are denied this ‘privilege’. All this while, both a Supreme Court-mandated joint interrogation report, as well as the former head of Sindh’s Counter-Terrorism Department have said that the encounter in which Naqeebullah and the others was killed was fake, and that Rao Anwar had a central role to play in it.

Encounters, in particular, are a matter of shame for our law-enforcement system. It is, therefore, important that those police officers involved in this heinous act be brought to justice. While Rao and others of his ilk were believed to freely play the role of judge, jury and executioner across Karachi’s vast expanse, the Naqeebullah killing brought into focus the issue of fake encounters like few cases before it had. Therefore, it is imperative that all those involved in this case are tried and brought to justice, and that no preferential treatment is given to any suspect, no matter how powerful. Those in uniform who kill with impunity must be sent a strong message.

Comments (6) Closed

''Encounters, in particular, are a matter of shame for our law-enforcement system.. ''

This piece of writing is also shaming and exposing the writ of state where a layman is treated entirely in different way and elite on another way. .

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Syed Ahmed Yahya

Jul 12, 2018 12:35pm

As mentioned in the editorial, when there are different treatments and criteria to dispense justice to people on the basis of their class and influence, the whole process of justice becomes questionable

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Alba

Jul 13, 2018 09:56am

Rs200 million is bail. Rs10,000 is bubblegum money.

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Arbab Karim Paris

Jul 13, 2018 12:06pm

high and mighty Rao is fake encounter specialist, thank you Dawn bringing this case truth, "Sub-jail, 2nd injustice is without handcuffed, now ATC judge is looks involved in this profile case, Sindh high court Chief Justice please give justice to Shaheed Naqeebullah, justice must me done and Rao bail pls cancel, thank you Dawn once again.

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Bill

Jul 14, 2018 04:05am

The government of Pakistan has made bail incredibly low for accused government officials. They pay the same bail a Sindh fisherman would pay and walk away laughing. Bail must be on a sliding scale or justice in Pakistan can never happen. For the elites Rs50,000 is pocket money. Walking around money. They pay more than that at a restaurant for dinner. They have 50,000 in the glove compartments of their cars for bribes and for bail.